A/N: Hello again everyone! I knew I just had to write something for the latest chapter (277), although really they feel more like teasers rather than chapters these days. Well I can't say I'm any better xD
Happy Reading!
Also, much thanks to SilkHandkerchief (Black_Handkerchief) on Discord for finding me the old chapter I needed!
Huff… huff… huff.
I try to catch my breath as the elevator doors close behind me. Looking down, I can see her shocked face, body pressed against the wall. All my plans for confessing and apologizing go out the window as I hold her between my arms. I can see the small tremors of fright trembling through her like a small animal. Now that I have her here like this, I start to panic a little.
I didn't mean to frighten her! This is like that time I tried to talk to her after she flipped me off. Come on Ren, think of something to say!
In my panic I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, "Isn't it a bit rude not to greet me after you obviously saw me?"
Confusion flashes across her face as I try to mentally slap myself for that line. This isn't last year! You are here to clear up misunderstandings not make more! Still unable to stop myself, I continue, "Didn't I tell you that you should always greet your seniors?"
Ren! This is not what you are supposed to be talking to her about!
Still confused, Kyoko bows and responds, "I-I- I'm sorry Tsuruga-san!"
I pull back a little trying to judge the situation.
At least she has stopped trembling for now. How am I going to remedy this?
Kyoko, head still bowed, subtly shifts and turns during my distraction.
Watching her, I notice the shift in her body and react before I can think about it, grabbing her hand.
As she tries to move out from under my arm, I spin her to face me again. Lacing our fingers, I step closer, our bodies almost pressed together against the wall. We both freeze, looking into each others eyes.
She smells so good. Her face is so close. If I just lean down a little…
My mind blanks.
Distantly I hear the ding of the elevator.
A shocked, "Ren!" pierces through the stupor in my mind. Blinking in a daze, I back up a bit and turn to see my manager at the door, a look of horror on his face as he takes in the scene. Behind me, Kyoko squeaks in surprise. Quickly stepping into the elevator, Yashiro lowers the phone he was holding and slaps the close door button before anyone else can get on.
"What are you doing?" he asks, glaring in my direction.
"I-"
Before I can answer, he cuts me off and asks Kyoko, "Kyoko-chan are you alright?"
Kyoko pops her head out from behind me, "Yashiro-san! No I'm- " she starts to say before she looks at Yashiro's expression.
"I mean yes! I'm alright! Tsuruga-san didn't do anything, just surprised me."
Not looking in my direction she adds, "I really need to be going" and tries to step away as the elevator reaches the next floor, forgetting our hands are still entwined.
Jerked back as she steps too far she looks down at our hands and then back up at me.
"Sorry." I say, slowly letting her hand go. "But- please, Mogami-san, can we talk?" I ask before she exits the elevator.
Kyoko hesitates and I see a look of defeat flash across her eyes before she answers, "Okay. But not now and not here."
I nod in agreement my hands clenched at my sides as I try not to reach out for her again, "Just tell Yashiro when and where. Thank you Mogami-san."
The elevator doors close before I can say anything more, but not before I see the look of sadness and pain in her eyes. It takes everything in me not to pull the doors open and chase after her again.